Rousimar Palhares’ former coach Murilo Bustamante, head of the Brazilian Top Team, says he is not surprised about Palhares’ latest controversial incident in the UFC Octagon, nor that he has now been cut by the organization and banned for life.

Speaking to Fighters Only, the esteemed trainer and former UFC champion said that Palhares’ tendency to hurt his training partners was a large factor in their parting ways last year. Palhares is now with Team Nogueira in Rio de Janeiro.

“I wouldn’t normally say anything because usually what happens inside Brazilian Top Team stays inside Brazilian Top Team. But Rousimar has been talking a lot of bulls--t about my team so I feel I am free to say what I think as well,” Bustamante tells us.

“I can say this - nobody ever defended him as much as I did every time he made a mistake like this. In the beginning I thought it was because he was naive or had too much nervous energy during the fights.

“But then he caused a lot of incidents inside my academy during his camps and I changed my mind.

“I got tired of seeing how he hurts people so often when he is sparring, especially when he has a fight coming up. We used to argue every time it happened, so we argued a lot.

“That was a reason - together with his nonsense excuses every time he lost a fight - that our relationship started to get bitter.

“I actually hired a psychologist to help me with him but, as we have seen, it didn't work.”

Palhares was released from his UFC contract after holding a heel-hook too long on Mike Pierce

Comments

Great little quick article man. Nice getting the info from Murilo. Our gym here in Memphis used to be BTT, got my blue under one of Bustamante's black belts.

Anyways, unfortunately I think it was the right decision to release Palhares. I am torn because as a bjj guy, I love the style and mentality. But you just can't do that stuff man. Palhares does enough bjj to be able to tell when a dude taps just once, he knows his shit is killer. Also, I believe he cranked the sub on Pierce one final time before releasing.

Palhares has clubbed people in bjj comps. I actually like it but those aren't fights. Too conflicted...

Major props for this article. Bustamante is a legend and this really clarifies Toquinho's situation. After the video he released begging for forgiveness and re-watching the Pierce fight I was on the fence about the release but now I feel like it was fully justified and timely.

Brazilian Top Team Murilo Bustamante is a classy and humble coach and we had the pleasure to meet him. He is very Zen and respectful. We wish you great success and to the future of the club... OSS! Regards Danny, USA